2000
#10,458
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,819
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.04
Rare Last name
Lucier
A French occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of locks or a locksmith.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,037 Americans carry the last name Lucier. That puts it at #11,385 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.89 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 112,860 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lucier surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.0K
1 in 112,860
Census rank
#11,385
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,648 bearers of the surname Lucier in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.89 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11385th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lucier, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.1%) and Black (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lucier
The surname Lucier is believed to have originated from the northwestern region of France, specifically in Normandy, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "lucier," which referred to a maker or seller of candles or lamps. This occupation was highly valued in times when artificial lighting was scarce and essential for daily activities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lucier can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by King William the Conqueror in 1086. It is mentioned as a variant spelling of the name Lusher, indicating the presence of a candle-maker or lamp-maker among the population at that time.
During the 12th century, the name Lucier began appearing in various historical records across Normandy and other parts of northern France. These records often referred to individuals engaged in the trade of candle-making or lamp-making, solidifying the connection between the surname and this particular occupation.
In the 13th century, a notable individual named Geoffroy Lucier was documented as a respected candlemaker in the town of Rouen, France. His skills and craftsmanship were highly sought after, contributing to the prominence of the Lucier name in the region.
Another significant figure bearing the surname Lucier was Jean Lucier, a candlemaker who lived in Paris during the 15th century. Jean's expertise in creating intricate and ornate candles earned him commissions from the French nobility and religious institutions, further elevating the reputation of the Lucier name.
In the 16th century, the Lucier family established a presence in the city of Lyon, where they continued the tradition of candlemaking. One member, Jacques Lucier, born in 1542, became particularly renowned for his innovative techniques and the high quality of his products, which were sought after throughout Europe.
As the centuries passed, the Lucier surname continued to be associated with the craft of candlemaking, although some individuals bearing the name eventually pursued other professions. Notable examples include Pierre Lucier, a successful merchant born in 1711 in Bordeaux, and Marie Lucier, a celebrated opera singer who graced the stages of Paris in the late 18th century.
While the surname Lucier has its roots in the occupation of candlemaking, it has evolved over time and spread across various regions, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lucier
Among Census respondents with the surname Lucier, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.1%) and Black (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Lucier bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Lucier surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.1% · 2,360
- Two or more races5.1% · 136
- Black or African American2.5% · 65
- Hispanic or Latino2.2% · 57
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 18
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 12
Timeline
Historical Census data for Lucier
Lucier appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#10,979
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,897
+78 bearers (+2.8%)
Per 100,000 0.98
Rank movement Down 521 places
2020
#11,385
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,648
-249 bearers (-8.6%)
Per 100,000 0.89
Rank movement Down 406 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #10,458 | 2,819 | 1.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #10,979 | 2,897 | 0.98 | +78 bearers (+2.8%) | Down 521 places |
| 2020 | #11,385 | 2,648 | 0.89 | -249 bearers (-8.6%) | Down 406 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Lucier surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,979 | #11,385 | -3.7% |
| Count | 2,897 | 2,648 | -8.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.98 | 0.89 | -9.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Lucier bearers went from 2,897 to 2,648 (-8.6% change). The surname moved down 406 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,979 to #11,385.
FAQ
Lucier surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Lucier?
Name Census estimates that about 3,037 living Americans carry the surname Lucier. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 112,860 residents.
How common is Lucier?
Lucier ranks #11,385 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.89 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,648 people with the surname Lucier. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,037), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.89 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.89 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Lucier.
Has Lucier become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Lucier went from 2,897 recorded bearers to 2,648. That is a decrease of 249 (-8.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #10,979 to #11,385.
What does the Census say about the background of Lucier?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lucier, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.1%) and Black (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Lucier in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.1% (2,360 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Lucier appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.1%), Two or More Races (5.1%), Black (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Lucier (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Lucier mean?
A French occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of locks or a locksmith. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Lucier (0.89 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Lucier?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.